Retractable and extensible container spout



June 11, 1963 J. E. BORAH RETRACTABLE AND EXTENSIBLE CONTAINER SPOUT Filed July 3. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 9

FIG. I2

INVENTOR JOHN E. BORAH 7,7. 4. M

ATTORNEY June 11, 1963 J. E. BORAH 3,093,273

RETRACTABLE AND EXTENSIBLE CONTAINER SPOUT Filed July 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

JNVENTOR.

JOHN E. BOR'AH By 797. AM

ATTORNEY 3,993,273 Patented June 11, 1963 3,093,273 RETRACTABLE AND EXTENSIELE CGNTAINER SPGU'I John E. Borah, outh Bend Modern Molding, Inc, 815 Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaira, Ind. Filed July 3, 1959, Ser- No. 825,394 Ciaims. (El. 222-527) The present invention relates to containers and more particularly to detachable spouts therefor.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications Serial No. 542,867, filed October 26, 1955, now Patent No. 2,898,018, dated August 4, 1959, and No. 601,390, filed August 1, 1956, now Patent No. 2,898,014, dated August 4, 1959, and contains subject mater disclosed and originally claimed in these two earlier filed applications. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a liquid pouring spout for conventional liquid containers, which can quickly be attached to and detached from said containers by hand without the aid of any tools or machines and without any special skill or knowledge on the part of the user, and which is so constructed that it can readily be attached to the container in the home by the housewife, on the farm, in the factory, or in a service station by common or unskilled labor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible spout for a container which can be folded into the container opening and the opening capped Without the user touching any part in contact with the contents of the container, and which will automatically extend itself when the cap is removed from the container and the container moved to pouring position. This feature of the present invention is of particular importance when the contents of the container consist of skin irritating or poisonous chemicals in that the entire operation of unsealing the container, pouring the contents therefrom and rescaling the container can be accomplished without the user coming in contact with the chemicals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a resilient collapsible spout which is adapted to be mounted on a container having an opening designed for a conventional screw threaded or snap-on cap, and which is so constructed that it can be detached and reused over and over again indefinitely.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spout of the aforesaid type which can be readily removed from a container and used as a funnel for the container into which the liquid is poured, and then reassembled onto and sealed in the original container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure for the aforesaid spout, which initially seals the opening in the spout and after the seal has been broken remains attached to the spout to serve as a cap to prevent contamination of the container contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means adapted to assist the spout to collapse into the container outlet when the container is to be sealed or recapped.

When the spout is collapsed into the container neck in the recapping operation, the conical side portion of the spout folds downwardly over the upper surface of the base of the spout to form a sealing gasket for the container cap, thus eliminating the necessity of a separate gasket in the cap. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a spout of the aforesaid type having a structure which improves the eifectiveness of the gasket formed by the spout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible spout for a container which will remain in either its collapsed or extended position and which can easily be moved from one position to the other by hand without the use of any tools or special attachments.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a conventional metal container showing my improved spout mounted on the container neck in its extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the spout shown in its extended position mounted in the opening of a container, such as a conventional fifty gallon barrel or drum;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the spout shown in FIGURE 2, in its collapsed position in the opening of the container;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of a further modified form of my spout, showing it in its extended position;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the spout shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the spout shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, showing the spout in its fully folded position;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of my spout showing a modified form of the means for attaching the spout to the container;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of the spout and two containers, illustrating the use of my spout as a funnel;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view of any one of the spouts disclosed herein, showing the outlet end of the spout sealed by a closure;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view of a spout similar to that shown in FIGURE 9, in which the seal between the spout and closure has been broken and the closure latched in its open position; and

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are vertical cross-sectional views of a further modified form of my spout, showing the various stages through which the spout passes as it collapses into the liquid outlet of a container.

In FIGURE 1 my spout It is shown mounted in its extended position in the outlet of a container 12, such as a barrel or drum, the details of said spout being shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, wherein numeral 14 designates a bilge or neck defining the liquid opening of the container. The bilge is secured in place in the top of the container usually by welding the two together at numeral 16 and is normally threaded intern-ally for receiving a closure. The bilge is also shown threaded externally for receiving a cap for use in conjunction with my spout, as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter. The spout it which is preferably made of rubber, rubber-like material or flexible and/ or resilient plastic material consists of a thick and relatively firm annular base 18, a frusto-conical portion 20 secured to said base and an outwardly flaring neck 22 joined to the small end of conical portion 20. While the base is threaded externally to correspond to the internal threads on bilge 14, it is normally not screwed into the bilge but rather is flexed or compressed sufficiently to permit it to slip into the opening and is then released to permit it to expand and engage the threads in the bilge. After the base has expanded and engaged the threads it forms :a fluid tight seal against the threads and can not be dislodged by any normal forces or pressures to which the spout would normally be subjected. To remove the base from the opening it is compressed by applying pressure to an annular flange 24 formed integrally with the upper part of the base and then the base is flexed and slipped endwise from the opening.

The neck 22 is tapered outwardly toward the free end, and preferably provided with a head 26, to give the neck sufficient rigidity that it retains its cylindrical shape in both collapsed and extended position of the spout, thus providing a good pour lip for the spout while it is being used and a substantial section of material for the user to grip in collapsing and extending the spout. In the present type of spout the folding which occurs when it is collapsed usually commences in the conical portion adjacent the base of the neck. This folding is facilitated by providing relatively thin walls in the neck and conical portion adjacent the point of juncture since this construction tends to localize the point of initial folding and creates an annular fold which permits the conical portion to move readily and smoothly in an axial direction until it assumes its completely folded position as shown in FIGURE 3.

In sealing the container, the spout is collapsed to the position shown in FIGURE 3 by pressing downwardly on neck 22 and then placing a closure 28 over the opening and securing it to the bilge by any suitable means, the closure shown being secured to the bilge by screw threads on the outer and inner surfaces of the bilge and closure, respectively. When the spout is folded inwardly as shown, the lower part of conical portion 20 and/or annular flange 24 form a gasket between the internal surface of the closure and the bilge to effectively seal the container. Any other suitable type of closure such as a crown or snap-on cap may be used to seal the container. If the container contains irritating or poisonous chemicals which might be injurious to the one using the container, the contents can be poured from the container using the spout and the container rescaled without the user coming in contact with the chemicals. In accomplishing this, the user removes the closure and tilts the container to pouring position. The spout which can be moved to its extended position with very little pressure, is forced to that position by the pressure of the liquid as soon as the container is tilted to the point where liquid starts to flow through the spout. After the user is through pouring, the container is resealed by placing the closure on the spout and pushing it downwardly causing the spout to collapse into the container opening, as shown in FIGURE 3. The closure is then secured to the container by screwing it onto the bilge and tightening it until an effective seal is formed between the inside surface of the closure and the conical portion at numeral 30 or between said surface and annular flange 24.

In some installations it may be desirable to latch the spout in its collapsed position. This can be accomplished by placing a projection 31 on one side of neck 22 and a second projection 32 on the outside surface of the conical section 20 directly below projection 31. When the spout is in its collapsed position as shown in FIGURE 3, the two projections are interlocked, with projection 32 above projection 31, thus holding the neck in its folded position. To disengage the projections the neck is tilted sidewise away from the projections until projection 31 will pass projection 32 as the neck is moved outwardly.

Instead of using two projections, one of the projections can be enlarged and the other projection replaced by a recess into which the projection will seat when the spout is in its collapsed position.

-A further modified form of my venting spout is shown in FIGURES 4, and 6. The base 33 consists of an annular flexible member with an outwardly facing groove 34 for engaging an internal head or flange on the container. A conical portion 36 is joined at its large end to the base and is provided with a thick substantially rigid neck portion 37. Since the neck portion cannot fold upon itself, the entire folding during the collapsing step is confined to conical portion 36; hence the size of the conical portion determines the maximum length of neck which can be used and still have a spout which will fold completely into the container opening. It is thus seen that for conventional openings in standard containers the length of the neck must necessarily be relatively short. The modification, however, illustrates a further arrangement for the air vent and liquid passages, 38 and 40, respectively, the two passages being located in the nor- 4- mal circumferential area of the round neck. A tube 42 is inserted in the lower end of passage 38 and extends downwardly substantially below the lower end of the base and may if desired be extended above the upper end of neck 37.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 7 is similar to the one shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, with the exception that instead of the heavy externally threaded base a lighter base is used having an annular groove 52, which is adapted to slip over and embrace a sleeve 54- threaded into the opening in bilge 14. The lower edge of the base may also be threaded on its external surface to engage the threads on the bilge below the sleeve. To assemble a spout having this type of base, sleeve 54 is first threaded into the bilge opening to the position shown and the base of the spout is then distorted inwardly sufficiently to permit it to slip through the sleeve until groove 52 is on a plane with the sleeve. The base on being released returns to its circular shape with the sleeve fully embraced in groove 52. To remove the spout, the base is again distorted inwardly and the spout slipped endwise until it clears the sleeve.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 7, a small hollow stem 69 is provided to eliminate the back flow of air through the neck of the spout and thereby assure an even flow of liquid from the spout. When only a small quantity of liquid is desired the container can be tilted in the direction of stem only sufliciently to permit the liquid to flow through the stem, thus obtaining a small, easily controlled stream.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the use of my spout as a funnel. The spout which is normally in place on the container is removed from the container and inverted so that the small end of the spout will extend into the receiving container 61. Liquid from any container or spigot can thus be transferred by pouring it into the large end of the spout. When the operation is completed the spout is then returned to the original container. Any one of the spouts sh wn herein can be used satisfactorily as a funnel. The spout used in the illustration of FIGURE 8 has a somewhat longer neck than those previously described, a straight section 62 having been interposed between conical portion 20 and the flaring neck portion 22. The operation of this spout, however, is substantially the same as the operation of those in the previously described figures.

The present spout, if mounted on a container before the latter is shipped to the customer, can serve as a seal to prevent contamination or removal of any of the container contents during transit. As shown in FIGURE 7 a seal ing disc is secured to the outlet end of the spout and is attached to the side walls of the neck by a thin section of material which can be readily torn to remove the disc when the container contents are to be used. A tab 72 is preferably provided on the edge of the disc to facilitate removal of the disc. The sealing disc would normally be formed integrally with and of the same material as the spout proper and would be fabricated in the same operation as the spout. When the disc is to be used as a seal to indicate to the ultimate customer that the container has not been opened the base of the spout should be sealed or locked in place to prevent the spout from being removed and then replaced without leaving any telltale evidence of that fact.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of the spout sealing means. In this embodiment the disc is permanently attached at numeral 82 to one side of the outlet of neck 22 and is connected to the remainder of the neck outlet by the same thin section of material as that used in FIGURE 7. In order to direct the force being applied by the user in lifting the disc to the area of the thin section, the stem 84 is offset from the center of the disc toward the thin section and away from the permanently attached part 82. When the disc is lifted by pulling on stem 84-, the disc is severed from the neck along the thin section and pivots at point 82, thus forming a hinged cover for the small end of the spout. Since the disc normally tends to close and stay closed after the thin section is severed, a latch is provided to hold the disc in open position while the spout is being used. A small tubular member 86 attached to the outside surface of neck 22 on the same side as hinge 82 is provided to receive stem 84 and hold the disc in open position as shown in FIGURE 10. The hole in member 86 is slightly smaller than stem 84 so that the stem will be gripped and held firmly enough to effectively resist the force tending to return the disc to its closed position.

The spout illustrated in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 is similar to the one shown in elevation in FIGURE 8, Le. it is provided with a relatively long neck having a cylindrical section 62 interposed between conical section 20 and the flaring neck portion 22. This spout structure is particularly adapted to the formation of an effective sealing gasket from the lower part of the conical section when the spout is in its collapsed position. The annular base formation 38 is adapted to be mounted on a container having -a neck 99 with an internally extending flange 92, although, if a different type of container neck is involved the corresponding base, previously described herein, may be substituted for the base shown in these figures. The base 88 is sufiiciently resilient and flexible to permit it to be readily inserted in the container neck and is provided with a circumferential groove 96 for internal flange 92 which holds the spout firmly on the neck without any additional securing means. sufliciently tightly to form an effective seal between the base and flange to prevent leakage around the spout while the liquid is being poured from the container. When the container is to be recapped neck 22 is pressed downwardly causing conical portion 20 to collapse to the position shown in FIGURE 12. As the neck is pressed further cylindrical portion 62 folds progressively upon itself until the upper end of neck 22 is substantially on a plane with the upper side of annular base formation 88. The movement of the neck downwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 12 to the position shown in FIGURE 13 and the consequent folding of the cylindrical portion 62 upon itself draws the large end of the conical portion firmly over the upper side of the base to form an effective gasket at numeral 98. After the neck has been pressed to the position shown in FIGURE 13, the stretching and compression of Wall portions 100 and -2 respectively, of the cylindrical portion 62 hold or retain the neck in its fully depressed position and the gasket portion stretched over the upper side of the base. The neck however can easily be pulled from its depressed position to the extended position when the spout is to be used. When the neck is fully depressed the container closure can be applied without any interference from the spout, since in this embodiment the periphery of the base and conical section do not extend to the periphery of the container neck to which the closure is secured by screw threads or other suitable securing means. As the closure is tightened down it engages the gasket portion 98 of the spout and fully seals the container.

Various modifications may be made in the foregoing structures, including various combinations of features disclosed, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the closures of FIGURES 7 and 9 can be used on any of my spout embodiments. Further, for some uses a spout without neck 22 may be preferred. In this latter design an annular bead may be used at the small end of frusto-conical section 20.

I claim:

1. A collapsible spout for a container having an outlet portion, comprising an annular base of resilient material for engaging said outlet portion, a hollow conical section of resilient foldable material joined at its large end to said base, a neck of greater length than said coni- The base also grips flange 92 cal section joined to the small end of said section and having an intermediate cylindrical portion of the same diameter as said small end, said cylindrical portion being adapted to fold upon itself with the folded portions in direct cont-act and having suflicient friction therebetween to hold the spout in its collapsed position, and an outer end portion connected to said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion being of the same diameter as the small end of said conical section and said outer end portion having the same internal diameter as said cylindrical portion and an external diameter of increasing uniform taper.

2. A collapsible spout for a container having an outlet portion, comprising an annular base of resilient material for engaging said outlet portion, a hollow conical section of resilient foldable material joined at its large end to said base, a hollow neck of greater length than said conic-a1 section having an intermediate cylindrical portion joined to the small end of said section, said cylindrical portion being adapted to fold upon itself with the folded portions in direct contact and having suflicient friction therebetween to hold the spout in its collapsed position, and an outer end portion connected to said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion being of the same diameter as the small end of said conical section and said outer end portion having the same internal diameter as said cylindrical portion and an external diameter of increasing uniform taper.

3. A collapsible spout for a container having an outlet portion, comprising an annular base of resilient material for engaging said outlet portion, a hollow conical section of resilient material joined at its large end to said base, and a hollow neck having an intermediate cylindrical portion joined to the small end of said section and having the same external diameter as said small end and an outer portion, of the same internal diameter as that of the intermediate portion, but of increasing external diameter towards its outer end, said cylindrical portion being adapted to fold inside-out upon itself with the folded portions in direct contact and having suflicient friction therebetween to hold the spout in its collapsed position.

4. A collapsible spout for a container having an outlet portion, comprising an annular base of resilient material for engaging said outlet portion, a hollow conical section of resilient foldable material joined at its large end to said base, a neck joined at one end to the small end of said section and having a cylindrical inner end portion of the same diameter as the small end of said conical section and an outer end portion increasing in diameter toward the outer end, said increasing diameter portion being adapted to fold inside-out upon itself with the folded portions in direct contact and having suflicient friction therebetween to hold the spout in its collapsed position, and an outer end portion connected to said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion being of the same diameter as the small end of said conical section and said outer end portion having the same internal diameter as said cylindrical portion and an external diameter of increasing uniform taper.

5. A collapsible spout for a container having an annular outlet portion with an internal flange, comprising an annular base of resilient material extending above said outlet portion and adapted to engage said internal flange, a hollow conical section of resilient foldable material joined at its large end to the upper end of said base, said conical section being adapted to fold inwardly over the upper end of said base, a hollow neck of greater length than said conical section having an intermediate cylindrical portion joined to the small end of said section, said cylindrical portion being adapted to fold upon itself with the folded portions in direct contact and having suflicient friction therebetween to hold the spout in its collapsed position, and an outer end portion connected to said neck portion, said cylindrical portion being of the same diameter as the small end of said conical section and said outer end portion having the same internal diameter as said cylindrical portion and an external diameter :of increasing uniform taper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,543,909 Hathaway Mar. 6, 1951 2,565,699 Rieke Aug. 28, 1951 2,661,128 Rieke Dec. 1, 1953 2,718,985 Tamrninga Sept. 27, 1955 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE SPOUT FOR A CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET PORTION, COMPRISING AN ANNULAR BASE OF RESILIENT MATERIAL FOR ENGAGING SAID OUTLET PORTION, A HOLLOW CONICAL SECTION OF RESILIENT FOLDABLE MATERIAL JOINED AT ITS LARGE END TO SAID BASE, A NECK OF GREATER LENGTH THAN SAID CONICAL SECTION JOINED TO THE SMALL END OF SAID SECTION AND HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF THE SAME DIAMETER AS SAID SMALL END, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO FOLD UPON ITSELF WITH THE FOLDED PORTIONS IN DIRECT CONTACT AND HAVING SUFFICIENT FRICTION THEREBETWEEN TO HOLD THE SPOUT IN ITS COLLAPSED POSITION, AND AN OUTER END PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION BEING OF THE SAME DIAMETER AS THE SMALL END OF SAID CONICAL SECTION AND SAID OUTER END PORTION HAVING THE SAME INTERNAL DIAMETER AS SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF INCREASING UNIFORM TAPER. 